yoga

Taming the Monkey Mind: Days 8 & 9

Posted on March 24, 2012March 6, 2024 by stilllearning2b

Don’t worry, the monkeys didn’t get me. Not that they didn’t try…

Thursday was one of those days. If I hadn’t made a public commitment to meditate for 28 consecutive days, I am afraid that Thursday would have marked the end of my streak.

I have pretty much established the routine of meditating for around 20 minutes in the morning before work. Thursday’s schedule was off because my boyfriend was out of town, which leaves me with morning dog care. I elected to not get up earlier (5:00 am is early enough on the day I teach two extra classes) and to meditate after work. When I came home that afternoon to find my boyfriend’s car unexpectedly in the garage, my first thought was, “Yeah, he’s home,” followed by, “I need to make sure I don’t neglect meditation tonight.” He and I do not get much evening time together between his martial arts and work schedules and my inflexible teaching hours. That time we do have is precious, and I want to take advantage of it.

So, here’s how Thursday night went down. After a warm greeting, small snack, and quick chat, I went to change into workout clothes. I had already decided to run 3 miles that day along with 10 100-yard sprints, so I headed to the park to make it happen. The running went well and allowed me to discharge the yuck from the day (Thursday’s are especially yucky, thus the intensity of the sprints was needed).

Then, a short drive home was followed by a second snack (dinner in 3 stages), and a shower. My boyfriend was interested in trying (together) an 8:00 pm yoga class at our gym, which left me with about 30 minutes to myself before we would have to leave. Now, at this point in the day, I had literally only sat to drive to and from work and to ingest food. I had spent my day meeting the needs of others, which the exception of the run. I was exhausted, physically and mentally. All I really wanted to do was collapse and read for those 30 minutes. But, I had made a commitment.

It was not a successful meditation as far as my mental focus was concerned. But it was still a success for me. First, I didn’t neglect the practice on a day when it would have been so easy to do just that. Secondly, I noticed that, even though my mind was frenetic, my breathing was deep, even, and calm. That is major progress.

We enjoyed the yoga class, and I even managed to sneak in a mini meditation during chavasana, with was made especially nice by the instructor’s expert classical guitar playing.

On Friday, I was back into the groove of my morning practice. Or so I thought. I used a guided meditation podcast that I had downloaded a few days prior. I failed to notice that the playback speed was set to 2x. Now that makes for an interesting meditation. I guess it is one way to fit in it to a hectic schedule, but I must say, I wouldn’t recommend it.

So, the lessons from days 8 & 9: commit even when the practice isn’t perfect, meditation changes your breathing even when your mind isn’t aware of it, and check the playback speed before getting your om on.

Taming the Monkey Mind: Days 6 & 7 (lessonsfromtheendofamarriage.com)
Taming the Monkey Mind: Days 3 & 4 (lessonsfromtheendofamarriage.com)
Taming the Monkey Mind: a 28 Day Meditation Challenge (lessonsfromtheendofamarriage.com)
Taming the Monkey Mind: Days 1 & 2 (lessonsfromtheendofamarriage.com)
Taming the Monkey Mind: Day 5 (lessonsfromtheendofamarriage.com)

Upright and Locked Position

Posted on March 21, 2012March 6, 2024 by stilllearning2b

A seat graphic on a Song airplane. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I came across this article on Mind Body Green tonight and, boy, did it ever strike a chord. Just last week, I was in yoga class. This class is a bit advanced for me; there are often poses that I cannot fully acquire and that I am working towards. The instructor had us move into some bind (I don’t know the name, but we got there from a revolved crescent lunge). I found myself getting frustrated; my hips were tight and not allowing a full twist, I couldn’t figure out my left from my right (gotta love the Twister-effect of those binds), and I couldn’t manage to get the strap I was using in both hands at the same time. Eventually, I froze. I stopped breathing. My mind locked and the body followed. Luckily, the instructor saw me and provided assistance. I was able to complete the full pose on the other side with little trouble.

I saw this same response in one of my students today. She was struggling with the math. Eventually, she froze. She stopped breathing. Her mind locked and her body followed. I was more patient than I may have otherwise been, remembering my recent experience. Anytime we are facing something unfamiliar and uncomfortable, it is easy to respond this way, but easy does not mean best.

Next time I am in a bind, I am going to try to breath and surrender rather than get stuck in an upright and locked position.

5 Life Lessons of Yoga, Off the Mat (lessonsfromtheendofamarriage.com)

Taming the Monkey Mind: Days 6 & 7

Posted on March 21, 2012March 6, 2024 by stilllearning2b

It is easier for me to meditate after I’ve exercised. Shocking, I know. Exhaust the body and the mind calms too. I have always done better with more active forms of meditation: yoga, walking meditations, etc., but a) they’re not always practical and b) I want to learn to be still, body and mind.

I am enjoying trying different guided meditations and getting a feeling for what works well for me. I am mainly downloading free podcasts (gotta love those podcasts!).

I tried a different guided mediation that allowed my mind to journey while the body remained still. The meditation consisted of imagery that guided the listener through a meadow, down some steps, through a woodland, and to a pool. Just this suggestion of movement made me more comfortable, more relaxed. I think I might use this mediation and others like it when I am antsy and feeling the need for movement.

I was only able to do a short meditation this morning before work. I found myself scatterbrained and irritated with the kids today. I wonder if there is a connection? I fully intended to take a few moments at work to breath and relax, but it never happened. I’m not sure why I seem to separate that part of myself from my job, but I do. I would like to make meditation a part of me, a part that doesn’t disappear when I put on high heels.

This evening, I did a meditation that used a special breathing technique: short, somewhat sharp inhale followed by a quick, thorough exhale. I really liked this method for quickly removing tension and stress from the body after work (again, tough day today).

This is about the point where I have started to slack off in the past. Hold me to my promise, guys. If I haven’t posted about the meditation challenge in a few days, it means the monkeys are running the asylum:)

Taming the Monkey Mind: Days 3 & 4 (lessonsfromtheendofamarriage.com)
Taming the Monkey Mind: a 28 Day Meditation Challenge (lessonsfromtheendofamarriage.com)
Taming the Monkey Mind: Days 1 & 2 (lessonsfromtheendofamarriage.com)
Taming the Monkey Mind: Day 5 (lessonsfromtheendofamarriage.com)
Mindfulness and Meditation Resources (alexlod.com)

5 Life Lessons of Yoga, Off the Mat

Posted on March 9, 2012April 21, 2012 by stilllearning2b

Yoga has a way of uniting the breath and body that I don’t find in other arenas. During the divorce, I found that my mind began to move on from the trauma, but that my body still stored the shock and the pain. Even when my mind was at rest, my body was trembling, shaking as though it was in imminent danger. Medication worked, but only by shutting the body down, which I did not see as a viable long term solution. I tried meditation, but that same medication made that very difficult. I’m not sure why it took me so long, but I finally restarted yoga, which almost immediately began to calm my body through breath and rhythmic movements. My mind started to calm also, as the breath reconnected it to its corporeal frame. My biggest life lesson from yoga was the discovery that the breath is the link between the mind and body and it can be used to help heal either one.

5 Life Lessons of Yoga, Off the Mat.